BOSTON, Mass. - Sophomore Cason Hohmann scored the game-winning goal and had two assists to lead No. 12/14 Boston University past Providence, 4-2, in its season opener on Saturday evening at Agganis Arena.
Senior Ryan Ruikka opened the scoring in the first period before the Friars took a 2-1 lead. Junior Garrett Noonan tied the game and Hohmann scored the go-ahead goal less than three minutes later at the end of the second. Senior Ben Rosen added a late empty-netter.
Freshman Matt O'Connor recorded 26 saves in his collegiate debut and fellow rookie Jon Gillies totaled 30 stops in goal for the Friars.
After freshman Paul de Jersey put the visitors up, 2-1, at 5:15 of the second off a rebound at the left post, the Terriers killed off a 4-on-3 advantage and then regained the lead before the end of the period.
Off a pass from Hohmann, Noonan blasted a shot from the high shot that made its way through traffic in front of the net and got past Gillies at 15:58 to make it a 2-2 contest. Sophomore Evan Rodrigues also assisted on the play.
Not long after, freshman Matt Grzelcyk started a rush and got the puck up to Rodrigues, whose drop pass found Hohmann all alone at the foot of the left circle. The sophomore wristed a shot over Gillies' shoulder with 1:03 left in the middle period, giving the Terriers a 3-2 advantage.
Ruikka opened the scoring 7:52 into the contest when he fired a shot from the top of the zone that found the top-right corner of the net. The goal was assisted by Hohmann and senior Wade Megan.
Providence (1-1-0, 0-1-0 Hockey East) was able to get an equalizer before the end of the first, as sophomore Ross Mauermann's redirect in the slot eluded O'Connor with 5:07 left in the opening stanza.
O'Connor stopped the final 13 shots on goal he faced, as he and the BU defense kept the visitors scoreless for the final 34:45.
With the Friars looking for a late equalizer with an extra attacker, freshman Matt Lane worked the puck to Rosen on a battle for the puck on the right boards of the BU zone. From just outside the Terrier blue line, Rosen flipped the puck high into the PC end and it found its way into the goal with 1:11 remaining to seal the 4-2 victory.
The Terriers, who held a 34-28 advantage in shots, came up empty in their two power-play chances but held the Friars scoreless on their three chances with the man advantage.
BU will return to action on Saturday (Oct. 20) when it visits New Hampshire for a 7 p.m. contest. The game will be broadcast live on WBIN and FCS Pacific. Providence starts a two-game series at Miami on Friday (Oct. 19) at 7:35 p.m.